A dozen members of the Texas congressional delegation reaped state retirement benefits while collecting their federal paychecks over the last two years — a much higher rate than other states’ lawmakers.

Thirty-five percent of the 34-member delegation reported dipping into state pension funds in 2012 or 2011, according to recently filed financial disclosure forms. That is nearly twice the one-fifth of all members of Congress members who reported drawing public retirement benefits last year, according to an analysis by the National Journal released Friday.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn dipped into three retirement funds in 2010 — more than any other member of the Senate. He reported one of them this year for the first time, despite tapping into it since 2006.

In his first public comments since updating his disclosure forms, Cornyn said in a conference call with reporters last week that the delayed disclosures were an “oversight.”

He declined to elaborate and when asked to respond to criticism about “double-dipping,” the San Antonio Republican quipped, “I don’t think my microphone’s working, I said that’s all I have for you on that.”

Overall, 90 lawmakers collected at least $3.6 million from public pension funds last year — a practice criticized as “double-dipping.” That figure cannot be precisely reported because members of Congress are only required to provide a range for their income, not specific numbers.

For example, former Rep. Charlie Gonzalez of San Antonio used a range rather than exact dollars. Gonzalez, a Democrat who retired from Congress last year, reported earning between $50,000 and $100,000 from one fund and between $15,000 and $50,000 from another in 2011. He was one of eight lawmakers from Texas who filed extensions for their disclosure forms last year.

Among the top Texas pension earners: Rep. Ted Poe, a Republican from Humble and former Harris County district court judge, who pocketed $126,743 in retirement payments last year, Rep. Al Green, a Houston Democrat and former Justice of the Peace, who earned $96,948, and Rep. John Carter, a Round Rock Republican and former judge, who took home $76,459 in retirement funds.

The highest paid member overall was Democratic freshman Rep. Joyce Beatty of Ohio, who received $253,323 from her government pension last year. That sum, The National Journal pointed out, makes her better paid than President Barack Obama.

Elected state officials in Texas can begin collecting retirement benefits at age 50 after working 12 years or at 60 after working eight years, with similar requirements for other state workers.

And under a loophole, those workers can be rehired by companies with different pension plans, or even the same plan if there is a long enough gap between employment. (The Texas County & District Retirement System requires one month in between positions).

Cornyn, the second highest-ranking Senate Republican, earned about $65,000 from his three state pension funds in 2012. He previously spent 13 years in the Texas judiciary system, rising from a district judge to the attorney general before winning the Senate seat held by Republican Phil Gramm in 2002.

Gov. Rick Perry faced fire in 2011, in the midst of his failed presidential bid, when he reported taking retirement benefits of $92,000 on top of his gubernatorial salary. He remains one of the highest paid state officials in the country.

Cory Eucalitto, editor of the nonpartisan State Budget Solutions and Sunshine Review, blasted Congress for the practice, which he said is gaining visibility as nation’s pension system continues to crumble. He said he was not aware of any “serious attempts” to address the problem.

Double-dipping is legal in most states, he said, though it is drawing more scrutiny as public pensions continue to dry up and people ask more questions.

Eucalitto added that 20 percent of Congress drawing state pensions ”demonstrates the extent to which public pensions have become about generating wealth as opposed to providing retirement security.”